cuff size- refers to the inner inflatable bladder and not the cloth covering of the cuff.
To establish an appropriate cuff size:
- choose cuff having a bladder width that is approximately 40% of the arm circumference midway between the olecranon and acromion.
- cuff bladder length chould cover 80-100% of arm circumference.
- use limb circumference = reflects direct arterial BP
TOO SMALL CUFF- falsely high BP
TOO LARGE CUFF- falsely low
  • When no appropriate size cuff is available use an oversized cuff and choose a site (lower thigh, or ankle) that appropriately fits the cuff size.
**Do not choos a cuff based on name (e.g. infant size, adult, etc)

Recommended Dimensions for BP cuff


width
length
arm circumference
NEWBORN
4
8
10
INFANT
6
12
15
CHILD
9
18
22
SMALL ADULT
10
24
26